Collecting Seed: Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Karen Hollyhocks are handsome plants that give the garden vertical movement and bring a touch of nostalgia. They are usually treated as biennials so that seeds are collected in summer and…
Plant Profile: Hairy Garden Pink (Dianthus knappii)
Hairy garden pink is a short-lived herbaceous perennial native to eastern Europe where it grows in grassy places and scrub. It belongs to the carnation family that includes baby’s breath,…
Plant Profile: Willowleaf Oxeye (Buphthalmum salicifolium)
Willowleaf oxeye is a clump forming herbaceous perennial native to Europe and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes goldenrod, lettuce, and daisies. Plants grow 1-2′ tall…
Plant Profile: Longspur Columbine (Aquilegia longissima)
This rare herbaceous perennial is native to Texas and Arizona. It is a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes peonies, hellebores, and clematis. The fragrant, nodding, pale…
Plant Profile: Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Native to Eastern US where it grows in moist shady sites, wild columbine is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes clematis, delphinium,…
Book Review: Front Yard Gardens
If you are tired of fertilizing, spraying, watering, weeding, and mowing your lawn Liz Primeau’s book, Front Yard Gardens, might be the perfect pick for you. Writing from her experience…
Growing Plants from Seed: Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
The tall spires of hollyhocks are always a welcome sight but especially in cottage gardens where they evoke a nostalgia for times past. Hollyhock is a native of China and…
Plant Profile: Dianthus ‘Mrs. Sinkins’
Bred in Berkshire, England in 1883 by Mr. Sinkins, this old fashioned pink has evergreen foliage that is grass-like and silvery-green. The double white flowers with green centers appear in…
Plant Profile: Corncockle (Agrostemma githago)
Corncockle is an upright annual belonging to the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes pinks, baby’s breath, and campion. It is native to Europe where it grows in disturbed sites…
Growing Plants from Seed: Bachelor’s Button (Centaurea cyanus)
Bachelor’s button is a cool weather annual native to Europe where it was a common weed in corn fields and hence acquired the common name cornflower. The species is has…